Adopt - Infographic Book by Isabel Levin

O AD PT Making the adoption process easier

for LGBTQ+ prospective parents. Baltimore, Maryland April of 2017

C O N T E N T S

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

01 03

Introduction Introduction by the designer Adoption laws by country

Europe

South America

Asia

Africa

Oceania

North America

LGBTQ+ family geography

37 39

LGBTQ+ vs. heterosexual family make-ups Adopted vs. biological ratios in different households

Gay fatherhood & lesbian motherhood

Rising rate of LGBTQ+ adoption

Demographic Characteristics

Geography

Race of parents

Education of parents

A D O P T

Adoption process

Sort through emotions

Get questions answered

Consider types of adoption

Create adoption plan

Create adoption profile

Complete the home study

Choose a child

Learn about birthmother/parents

Finalize the adoption

Create post-placement plan

A case for LGBTQ+ parenthood

Equality of LGBTQ+ & heteroseuxal parenthood

77 81

07 08

Advantages of LGBTQ+ adoptive families Increasing protections for LGBTQ+ parents Importance of data collection

Impact and value of data for communities

Conclusion

Works cited

Research publications cited

Articles cited

Websites cited

Book lists cited

INTRODUCTION Making LGBTQ+ adoption easier.

Introduction by the designer

I N T R O D U C T I O N

INTRODUCTION

The last decade has seen a sharp rise in the number of lesbians and gay men forming their own families through adoption, foster care, artificial insemination and other means. Researchers estimate that the total number of children nationwide living with at least one gay parent ranges from six to 14 million. At the same time, the United States is facing a critical shortage of adoptive and foster parents. As a result, hundreds of thousands of children in this country are without permanent homes. These children languish for months, even years, within state foster care systems that lack qualified foster parents and are frequently riddled with other problems. In Arkansas, for example, the foster care system does such a poor job of caring for children that it has been placed under court supervision. Many states have moved to safeguard the interests of children with gay or lesbian parents. For example, at least 21 states have granted second-parent adoptions to lesbian and gay couples, ensuring that their children can enjoy the benefits of having two legal parents, especially if one of the parents dies or becomes incapacitated. Recognizing the fact that lesbians and gay men can be good parents, the vast majority of states no longer deny custody or visitation to a person based on sexual orientation. The state agencies and courts now apply a â&#x20AC;&#x153;best interest of the childâ&#x20AC;? standard to decide these cases. Under this exact approach, a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sexual orientation cannot be the basis for ending or limiting parent-child relationships unless it is demonstrated that it causes harm to a child. This is a claim that has been routinely disproved by social science research. Using this standard, more than 22 states to date have allowed lesbians and gay men to adopt children either through state-run or private adoption agencies.

A D O P T

Nonetheless, a few states -- relying on myths

more homes by the time she reaches 18. It is not

and stereotypes -- have used a parent’s sexual

surprising, therefore, that long-term foster care

orientation to deny custody, adoption, visitation

is associated with increased emotional problems,

and foster care. For instance, two states (Florida

with delinquency, with substance abuse and with

and New Hampshire) have laws that expressly bar

academic problems.

lesbians and gay men from ever adopting children. In a notorious 1993 decision, a court in Virginia

In order to reach out and find more, better parents

took away Sharon Bottoms’ 2-year-old son simply

for children without homes, adoption and foster

because of her sexual orientation, and transferred

care policies have become increasingly inclusive

custody to the boy’s maternal grandmother. And

over the past two decades. While adoption and

Arkansas has just adopted a policy prohibiting

foster care were once viewed as services offered to

lesbians, gay men, and those who live with them,

infertile, middle-class, heterosexual, largely white

from serving as foster parents.

couples seeking healthy same-race infants, these policies have modernized. In the past two decades,

Right now there is a critical shortage of adoptive

child welfare agencies have changed their policies

and foster parents in the United States. As a

to make adoption and foster care possible for a

result, many children have no permanent homes,

much broader range of adults, including minority

while others are forced to survive in an endless

families, older individuals, families who already

series of substandard foster homes. It is estimated

have children, single parents (male and female),

that there are 500,000 children in foster care

individuals with physical disabilities, families

nationally, and 100,000 need to be adopted. But

across a broad economic range, and LGBTQ+

last year there were qualified adoptive parents

prospective parents.

available for only 20,000 of these children.3 Many of these children have historically been viewed as

These changes have often been controversial at

“unadoptable” because they are not healthy white

the outset. According to the CWLA, “at one time

infants. Instead, they are often minority children

or another, the inclusion of each of these groups

and/or adolescents, many with some significant

has caused controversy. Many well-intended

health problems.

individuals vigorously opposed including each new group as potential adopters and voiced concern

There is much evidence documenting the serious

that standards were being lowered in a way that

damage suffered by children without permanent

could forever damage the field of adoption.”

homes who are placed in substandard foster homes. Children frequently become victims of

As a result of the increased inclusiveness of

the “foster care shuffle,” in which they are moved

modern adoption and foster care policies,

from temporary home to temporary home. A child

thousands of children now have homes with

stuck in permanent foster care can live in 20 or

qualified parents.

ADOPTION

LAWS

COUNTRY

For LGBTQ+ prospective parents.

7 11 15 21 27 31 35

Europe South America Asia Africa Oceania North America LGBTQ+ family geography

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

E U R O P E A N L AW S O N

Debate has occurred throughout Europe over proposals

LGBTQ+ ADOPTION

to legalise same-sex parental adoption and also to legalize step-child adoption. Currently some types of adoption by same-sex couples are legal in 20 of the 56 countries and in 4 of the 6 dependent territories in Europe. Full joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in sixteen European countries. They include Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. An additional three, namely, Estonia, Germany and Slovenia, permit step-child adoption in which the registered partner can adopt the biological and, in some cases, the adopted child of his or her partner. In Croatia, a life partner may become a partner-guardian over their partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child, which is to a great extent comparable to step-child adoption. As for the dependent territories, joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in Gibraltar, Greenland, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Several countries are currently considering permitting full joint or step-child adoption by same-sex couples.

Same-sex couple may petition for joint adoption LGBTQ+ individual may petition to adopt Same-sex partner may petition to adopt partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child Same-sex couple may foster or stepchild foster LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may not adopt or foster

A D O P T

2014

2006

N/A

ANDORRA

AUSTRIA

BELGIUM

BELARUS

N/A

2014

2017

N/A

BULGARIA

CROATIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

CYPRUS

2010

2016

2017

DENMARK

ESTONIA

FAROE ISLANDS

FINLAND

2013

2014

1996

FRANCE

GERMANY

GIBRALTAR

GREECE

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

2016

N/A

2006

2016

GUERNSEY

HUNGARY

ICELAND

IRELAND

2011

N/A

2012

N/A

JERSEY

LATVIA

ISLE

MAN

I TA LY

N/A

2015

2014

LIECHTENSTEIN

LITHUANIA

LUXEMBORG

MALTA

N/A

2001

2009

N/A

MONACO

NETHERLANDS

N O R WAY

POLAND

A D O P T

2016

N N // A A

PORTUGAL

ROMANIA

2011

2005

SLOVENIA

SPAIN

2016

SAN

MARINO

2003

SWEDEN

N/A

S L O VA K I A

N/A

SWITZERLAND

2013

of all the countries in the continent

34 41

Countries with legalized adoption out

UNITED KINGDOM

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

S O U T H A M E R I C A N L AW S

In Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana,

ON LGBTQ+ ADOPTION

and Uruguay same-sex couples can jointly adopt. A government-sponspored adoption law in Uruguay allowing LGBTQ+ adoption was approved by the lower house on 28 August 2009, and by the Senate on 9 September 2009. In October 2009, the law was signed by President and took effect. According to Equipos Mori Poll’s, 53% of Uruguayans are opposed to same sex adoption against 39% that support it. Interconsult’s Poll made in 2008 says that 49% are opposed to same sex adoption against 35% that support it. On 4 November 2015, in a 6-2 Constitutional Court ruling, Colombia decided to allow adoption by LGBTQ+ peoples. In Chile, same-sex couples are allowed to apply to adopt a child. If applicants are approved as suitable to adopt, legally only one of them would be the legal parent of the child. A 2017 survey, shows that 45% of Chileans support same-sex adoption, whilst 50% are opposed to same-sex adoption.

Same-sex couple may petition for joint adoption LGBTQ+ individual may petition to adopt Same-sex partner may petition to adopt partner’s child Same-sex couple may foster or stepchild foster LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may not adopt or foster

A D O P T

2010

N/A

2015

2010

ARGENTINA

BELIZE

BOLIVIA

BRAZIL

2015

N/A

CHILE

COLOMBIA

ECUADOR

N/A

FRENCH GUIANA

GUATEMALA

G U YA N A

HONDURAS

N/A

NICARAGUA

PANAMA

PA R A G U AY

PERU

N/A

S A LVA D O R

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

While many LGBTQ+ rights in the United States are tied up in legal wrangling in individual states, in Latin America, many laws about same-sex marriage and adoption, about changing gender on national ID cards, and various antidiscrimination laws went into effect in the past decade. Many of them did so even before the US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Latin America is even more LGBTQ+ friendly than it may be perceived to be.

S E V E R A L C O U N T R I E S I N L AT I N AMERICA ARE AMONG OUR P L A N E T ’ S M O S T F R I E N D LY T O THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY In this year, the edition of the “Spartacus International Gay Travel Index,” released in February, places several of Latin American’s countries among the most LGBTQ+ friendly in the world. The index, which ranks 138 of all the world’s countries, calculates its scores based on criteria including the legislation guaranteeing the LGBTQ+ rights to marriage and rights to adoption, as well as the frequency of anti-gay acts of violence. Sweden topped the list, followed by several European countries before the first Latin American country appears in 9th position. Though many might suspect that Latin America’s Catholicism would hold it back from embracing LGBTQ+ rights, several countries in the region have passed trailblazing legislation. Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010. Mexico City passed a law in 2009 that gave gay and lesbian couples the right to marry and to adopt. Puerto Rico, which placed a as a mediocre 89th, just passed a major anti-discrimination law aimed at defending the LGBTQ+ community.

2009 N/A

SURINAME U R U G U AY VENEZUELA

05 19

of all the countries in the continent

N/A

Countries with legalized adoption out

A D O P T 14

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

A S I A N L AW S O N

LGBTQ+ adoption rights in Asia, especially Western

LGBTQ+ ADOPTION

Asia are currently debated yet have changed to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ communities. Most Asian nations still either criminalise people of the LGBTQ+ community or do not have anti-discrimination laws, preventing LGBTQ+ adoption, whilst some Asian countries allow almost all rights. For example, Israel allows LGBTQ+ members to serve in its defence force and adopt, but it is the only country in its region to legalize adoption. All other countries state that even marriage is illegal, affecting the other rights of LGBTQ+ peoples. As depicted on the right, the image shows the legal status of adoption with same sex couples in part of Western Asia. Almost all of the area has either criminalised homosexuality or have ambiguous/unknown laws in place.

Central Asia Eurasia Western Asia Southern Asia Eastern Asia Southeast Asia Same-sex couple may petition for joint adoption LGBTQ+ individual may petition to adopt Same-sex partner may petition to adopt partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child Same-sex couple may foster or stepchild foster Transgender individuals only may adopt LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may not adopt or foster

A D O P T

N/A

KAZAKHSTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

TAJIKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

N/A

UZBEKISTAN

ABKHAZIA

ARMENIA

AZERBAIJAN

N/A

CYPRUS

GEORGIA

NAGORNOKARABAKH

NORTHERN CYPRUS

2009

N/A

RUSSIA

SOUTH OSSETIA

TURKEY

BAHRAIN

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

N/A

2008

N/A

IRAN

IRAQ

ISRAEL

JORDAN

N/A

KUWAIT

LEBANON

OMAN

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

N/A

QATAR

SAUDI ARABIA

SYRIA

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

N/A

YEMEN

AFGHANISTAN

BANGLADESH

BHUTAN

A D O P T

N/A

INDIA

MALDIVES

NEPAL

PAKISTAN

N/A

SRI

LANKA

CHINA

HONG

KONG

N/A

JAPAN

N/A

MACAU

MONGOLIA

N/A

TAIWAN

BRUNEI

BURMA ( M YA N M A R )

CAMBODIA

NORTH

KOREA

N/A

SOUTH

KOREA

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

In Central Asia, no country is known to have allowed the adoption of a child by same-sex couples. While Kazakjstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan legally allow same-sex activities, same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples are not allowed. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The last two countries only allow same-sex sexual activity between two women. In Western Asia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon (only in certain circumstances), Gaza (for women only), and West bank of the Palestinian Terriotories, and Turkey legally allow same-sex sexual activity. Only Israel and Palestinian Territories (West Bank) allow child adoption by samesex couples. A restriction in Israel prohibits step parent adoption. In South Asia, only India and Nepal allow same-sex sexual activity, but all countries in this region do not allow adoption of any sort. The government of Nepal is discussing if they will consider allowing adoption by LGBTQ+ parents but no

WHILE MANY ASIAN COUNTRIES ALLOW SEX BETWEEN LGBTQ+ C O U P L E S , A D O P T I O N I S O N LY LEGALALIZED IN FOUR OF THEM final decision has been made yet. In East Asia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, Taiwan and South Korea legally allow same-sex sexual activity but none allow adoption of a child by LGBTQ+ couples. In Southeast Asia, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines (except for Muslim), Singapore (only for women), Thailand, and Vietnam legally allow same-sex sexual activity. But only Cambodia and the Philippines allow adoption of a child by LGBTQ+ prospective parents.

N/A

INDONESIA

LAOS

M A L AY S I A

2014

N/A

PHILIPPINES

SINGAPORE

THAILAND

VIETNAM

EAST

TIMOR

04 56

of all the countries in the continent

N/A

Countries with legalized adoption out

A D O P T

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

A F R I C A N L AW S O N

South Africa is the only African country to allow joint

LGBTQ+ ADOPTION

adoption by same-sex couples. The 2002 decision of the Constitutional Court in the case of Du Toit v Minister of Welfare and Population Development amended the Child Care Act, 1983 to allow both joint adoption and stepparent adoption by “permanent same-sex life partners”. The Child Care Act has since been replaced by the Children’s Act, 2005, which allows joint adoption by “partners in a permanent domestic life-partnership”, whether same- or opposite-sex, and stepparent adoption by a person who is the “permanent domestic life-partner” of the child’s current parent. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2006, and is equivalent to opposite-sex marriage for all purposes, including adoption.

North Africa West Africa East Africa Central Africa South Africa

A D O P T

N/A

ALGERIA

EGYPT

MOROCCO

TUNISIA

N/A

WESTERN SAHARA

BENIN

BURKINA FASO

CAMEROON

N/A

CAPE

VERDE

N/A

GHANA

CHAD

CÔTE

D’IVOIRE

GAMBIA

N/A

GUINEA

GUINEA-BISSAU

LIBERIA

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

L A W S

N/A

MALI

MAURITANIA

NIGER

NIGERIA

N/A

TOGO

BURUNDI

N/A

DJIBOUTI

ETHIOPIA

ERITREA

SENEGAL

N/A

THE

A D O P T I O N

COMOROS

SIERRA

LEONE

N/A

K E N YA

MADAGASCAR

MAURITIUS

RWANDA

A D O P T

N/A

SOMALIA

SUDAN

TANZANIA

N/A

UGANDA

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CONGO

DEM. REPUBLIC OF CONGO

N/A

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GABON

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

ANGOLA

N/A

BOTSWANA

LESOTHO

MALAWI

MOZAMBIQUE

THE

SEYCHELLES

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ruled that gay couples have the right to adopt children. The highest court in the country said on Tuesday that people in “permanent, same-sex partnerships” could provide children with a stable home and the support and affection necessary. Under South Africa’s constitution, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is illegal, but provisions of the Child Care Act banned gay couples from adopting children. This makes South Africa the first African country to let same-sex couples legally adopt children, reports the French news agency, AFP. The case to have the relevant sections of the Child Care Act declared unconstitutional was brought by two lesbian judges, Ann-Marie de Vos and Suzanne du Toit. The laws had already been declared unconstitutional by the Pretoria High Court. However, now the Constitutional Court has confirmed the ruling and decided to establish that “the rights to equality and dignity were infringed by

S O U T H A F R I C A I S T H E O N LY AFRICAN COUNTRY TO ALLOW JOINT ADOPTION BY LGBTQ+ P R O S P E C T I V E PA R E N T S specific sections of the unamended Child Care Act”, according to the Mail and Guardian Online. Ann-Marie de Vos said she was “ecstatic” about the judgement and was relieved that the case was over. She and Suzanne du Toit have been together since 1989, the Mail and Guardian said, and they will now be able to officially adopt Ms de Vos’s two children. “I needed to know that if something happened to me, Suzanne would be able to take care of the children,” she said. Both of these women are judges in the judicial system in South Africa.

NAMIBIA

2005

SOUTH AFRICA

N/A N/A

SWAZILAND ZAMBIA

01 53

of all the countries in the continent

N/A

Countries with legalized adoption out

A D O P T 26

N/A

ZIMBABWE

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

O C E A N I A L AW S O N

In Australia, same-sex adoption is legal in most places,

LGBTQ+ ADOPTION

except within the Northern Territory. The lesbian comother or gay co-father(s) can apply to the Family Court of Australia for a parenting order, as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;other people who are significant to the care, welfare and developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the child. But the lesbian co-mother and gay co-father(s) will be treated in the same way as a social parent is treated under the law; they will not be treated in the same way as a birth parent. In May 2007, the Victorian Law Reform Commission in Victoria released its final report recommending that the laws be modified to allow same sex couples to adopt children have not been implemented yet, while all other recommendations have been implemented. On December 9, 2015, the Victorian state parliament passed a bill that allows same-sex couples to adopt children. This bill received royal assent on 15 December 2015 and went into effect on 1 September 2016.

Australasia Australian state or territory Melanesia Micronesia Polynesia

A D O P T

2017

2004

2010

N/A

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRIOTORY

NEW SOUTH WALES

NORTHERN TERRITORY

2017

2013

2016

2002

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TASMANIA

QUEENSLAND

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

2013

2016

2013

N/A

VICTORIA

NEW ZEALAND

FIJI

NEW

CALEDONIA

N/A

2002

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

SOLOMON ISLAND

VA N U AT U

GUAM

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

N/A

FEDERAL STATES OF MICRONESIA

KIRIBATI

MARSHALL ISLANDS

NAURU

2015

N/A

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

PALAU

UNITED STATES O U T LY I N G I S L A N D S

AMERICAN SAMOA

N/A

2013

N/A

FRENCH P O LY N E S I A

NIUE

N/A

EASTER

ISLAND

2015

PITCAIRN ISLANDS

COOK

ISLANDS

N/A

SAMOA

TOKELAU

TONGA

N/A

2015

T U VA L U

UNITED STATES O U T LY I N G I S L A N D S

WALLIS & FUTUNA

18 35

of all the countries in the continent

Countries with legalized adoption out

A D O P T

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

N O R T H A M E R I C A N L AW S

Laws regarding LGBTQ+ adoption in the United States

ON LGBTQ+ ADOPTION

vary, as adoption in the United States is regulated and licensed at the state level. In 2006, adoption by any gay couples was illegal in these states: Nebraska, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Utah. Adoption by single LGBTQ+ individuals is now legal in every single jurisdiction in the United States, while adoption by samesex couples is also legal in all the 50 states and the District of Columbia as of June 26, 2015. In Mexico City, the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District passed legislation on 21 December 2009 enabling same-sex couples to adopt children. Eight days later, Head of Government (“Mayor”) Marcelo Ebrard signed the bill into law, which officially took effect on 4 March 2010. LGBTQ+ couples wishing to form a family and adopt children will be legally protected and can’t be limited by any governmental entity. In Canada, same-sex adoption has also been legal in all provinces and territories under varying rules. Since the 1985 entrenchment of Section 15 of the Charter, Canadian LGBTQ+ people have achieved an astonishing range of judicially made rights gains in most policy areas, including immigration, housing, employment, health benefits, adoption, pensions, finances, hate crimes and marriage.

Mainland Caribbean Same-sex couple may petition for joint adoption LGBTQ+ individual may petition to adopt Same-sex partner may petition to adopt partner’s child Same-sex couple may foster or stepchild foster LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may not adopt or foster

A D O P T

2011

2016

2015

N/A

CANADA

MEXICO

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

N/A

2015

ARUBA

BAHAMAS

BARBADOS

BERMUDA

N/A

CUBA

DOMINICA

C AY M A N ISLANDS

COSTA

RICA

N/A

2013

N/A

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

GRENADA

GUADELOUPE

HAITI

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

Canada was the first country in North America to legalize adoption for LGBTQ+ prospective parents. LGBTQ+ parents in Canada have undergone some significant progress in terms of both legal and of social acceptance. Same-sex couples who wish for parenthood now enjoy equally the possibilities, responsibilities and rights of opposite-sex couples. After the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005, the number of LGBTQ+ families in Canada has increased substantially, paving the way for same-sex couples’ aspirations of having their own children. Legal methods of assisted reproduction range from insemination via IVF through to surrogacy arrangements. In Mexico, same-sex couples cannot adopt in every state. Mexico City and the states of Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Michoacán, Morelos and Veracruz allow for same-sex couples to adopt children jointly. Mexico City legalized same-sex adoptions in the March 2010, when its same-sex marriage law took effect. On 24 November 2011, the Coahuila Supreme Court was struck down the state’s law barring same-sex couples from adopting. The state complied with the ruling in February 2014. The Office of the Defense of Children and the Family in the state apparently performs the same protocol for all couples seeking to adopt regardless of their sexual orientation. Adoption by LGBTQ+ couples is also allowed in the United States, Bermuda, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Barthelemy, and the Virgin Islands.

C A N A D A WA S T H E F I R S T N O R T H AMERICAN COUNTRY TO MAKE LGBTQ+ ADOPTION LEGAL

A D O P T

JAMAICA

MARTINIQUE

N/A

S T. K I T T S & NEVIS

S T.

PUERTO

2015

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

VIRGIN ISLANDS

RICO

N/A

LUCIA

N/A

2013

2015

S T. V I N C E N T GRENADINES

S T.

BARTHÃ&#x2030;LEMY

N/A

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

09 26

of all the countries in the continent

2013

Countries with legalized adoption out

N/A

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

L G B T Q + FA M I LY G E O G R A P H Y

A D O P T I O N

L A W S

Findings presented here reveal a portrait of LGBTQ+ families who likely face a variety of legal challenges and economic challenges: The geographic data does suggest that many same-sex couples raising children live in states with legal environments that at best are not supportive and at worst are openly hostile toward LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. This could be particularly prob- lematic for establishing legal parentage or guardianship rights. If a state does not allow second-parent adoptions, nonadoptive parents could be legal strangers to their children. Similarly, in the absence of legal relationship recognitions like marriage, civil unions, or registered domestic partnerships, stepparents may have no ability to establish any type of legal guardianship relationship with their stepchildren. The absence of these parenting and guardianship relationships could mean, for example, that a nonlegal parent would not have any right to make potentially life-altering emergency medical decisions for a child if a legal parent were for some reason not available. The racial/ethnic and economic diversity that we observe among same-sex couples and their families counters prevailing media images of this population and challenges scholars to broaden the scope of the research on LGBTQ+ families and parenting. Unfortunately, one important reason that scholars have not explored this diversity as fully as they might is a lack of data. Explicit LGBTQ+ inclusion within population-based data sources remains the exception rather than the rule. Under the Trump administration,

A D O P T

this situation will worsen tenfold when LGBTQ+ individuals and families are eliminated entirely from the 2020 census. Data collection is vital for empowering minorities and this will be a painful loss for the community and progress towards justice. This issue will be discussed in depth in a later chapter. A recent Institute of Medicine report on LGBTQ+ related health disparities called on federal statistical agencies to collect more and better data that allow for the identification of LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. As data resources improve, scholars must consider how the interplay of racial and ethnic cultural norms, geographic location, and socioeconomic status intersect with sexual orientation to affect LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Social scientists will, ideally, expand the conceptual and theoretical frameworks by which they frame their research and consider the rich demographic variation in the LGBTQ+ community.

EXPLICIT LGBTQ+ INCLUSION W I T H I N P O P U L AT I O N - B A S E D D ATA S O U R C E S R E M A I N S T H E EXCEPTION. UNDER THE TRUMP A D M I N I S T R AT I O N , T H I S W I L L WORSEN TENFOLD

LGBTQ+ FA M I LY

VS.

HETEROSEXUAL

MAKEUPS

Demographics and statitics about the people who adopt. 39

Adopted vs. biological ratios in different households

Gay fatherhood and lesbian motherfood

Rising rate of LGBTQ+ adoption

F A M I L Y

M A K E U P S

FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2009 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

026,052,291 HOUSEHOLDS HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN

The number on the inside of the circle diagrams indicates

I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S

the total number of households that exist in the United States that are specific to the category written below each diagram. The data here is approximate, especially because there are many LGBTQ+ couples and households who do not report themselves as being such.

Biological children only Step or adopted children only Combination

A D O P T

71.2% 21.1%

94,627

CHILDREN

7.1%

LGBTQ+ COUPLES

90.5% 4.5%

23,453,504

CHILDREN

4.9%

MARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES

87.3% 5.6%

2,493,838

7.1%

UNMARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES

CHILDREN

F A M I L Y

M A K E U P S

79.5% 11.1%

43,792

CHILDREN

61,157

CHILDREN

9.3%

MARRIED LGBTQ+ COUPLES

64.2% 29.5% 6.3%

UNMARRIED LGBTQ+ COUPLES

A D O P T

W H AT FA M I LY M A K E U P I S M O R E L I K E LY T O A D O P T I N T H E U S ?

DRAWING A CONCLUSION L G B T Q + PA R E N T S A R E M O R E

LGBTQ+ prospective parents are more likely to adopt

L I K E LY T O A D O P T

children than heterosexual prospective parents are especially because having biological children is a more difficult and expensive process for LGBTQ+ couples. Unmarried LGBTQ+ couples are the most likely to adopt children, as well as the most likely to have a mixture of adopted and biological children in their homes.

Biological children only Step or adopted children only Combination

F A M I L Y

M A K E U P S

LGBTQ+ COUPLES ARE MORE L I K E LY T H A N H E T E R O S E X U A L C O U P L E S A R E T O A D O P T.

UNMARRIED LGBTQ+ COUPLES A R E T H E M O S T L I K E LY G R O U P O F P E O P L E T O A D O P T.

A D O P T

79.5%

90.5%

11.1%

4.5%

9.3%

4.9%

MARRIED LGBTQ+ COUPLES

MARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES

64.2%

87.3%

29.5%

5.6%

6.3%

7.1%

UNMARRIED LGBTQ+ COUPLES

UNMARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES

F A M I L Y

M A K E U P S

FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2008 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

LGBTQ+ W/ CHILDREN G AY M A L E C O U P L E S V S . L E S B I A N

Based on the 2008 American Community Survey data,

C O U P L E S W H O H AV E C H I L D R E N

13.9% of gay male couples had children (be they adopted or biological or a mix of both) and 26.5% of lesbian couples had children (adopted or biological or a mix of both). Therefore, lesbians are statistically more likely to become mothers than gay men are to become fathers.

Gay men and lesbians who have children Gay men, bisexual men, lesbians, and bisexual women who have children

A D O P T

13.9 %

19 %

O F G AY M E N

O F G AY & B I S E X U A L

H AV E C H I L D R E N

M E N H AV E C H I L D R E N

26.5%

49 %

OF LESBIANS

OF LESBIANS & BISEXUAL

H AV E C H I L D R E N

W O M E N H AV E C H I L D R E N

LESBIAN COUPLES ARE M O R E L I K E LY T H A N G AY MALE COUPLES ARE TO H AV E C H I L D R E N

F A M I L Y

M A K E U P S

LESBIAN & BISEXUAL WOMEN ARE

1.9 x M O R E L I K E LY T H A N L E S B I A N W O M E N A L O N E T O H AV E C H I L D R E N

QUEER WOMEN ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY W H O A R E M O S T L I K E LY T O H AV E C H I L D R E N

G AY & B I S E X U A L M E N A R E

1. 4 x M O R E L I K E LY T H A N G AY M E N A L O N E T O H AV E C H I L D R E N

A D O P T

How common is parenting among LGBTQ+

life and are becoming less likely to have children

identified people? Among self-identified lesbians

with different-sex partners. These declines may

and gay men in the 2002 National Survey of Family

be outpacing increases in from population-based

Growth, one third of lesbians and one in six gay

surveys suggest that LGBTQ+ individuals are

men say they have had children (Macomber et

younger than nonâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;LGBTQ+ individuals when they

al., 2007). Analyses of the 2008 General Social

have their first child. In the 2008 General Social

Survey suggest that 19% of gay and bisexual men

Survey, the average age of LGBTQ+ respondents

and 49% of lesbians and bisexual women say they

when they had or gave birth to their first child was

have had a child. U.S. Census Bureau data on same-

22.5 years. Among heterosexuals, the average age

sex couples allow for a consideration of trends in

was older, at 24.1 years (although the difference

parenting among same-sex couples since 1990.

was not statistically significant). A similar pattern

The findings show an increase in childrearing from

is observed for women in the 2009 California

12% of couples in 1990 to nearly 19% of couples in

Health Interview Survey. Among women who have

2006. Since then, the percentage of such couples

had a child, 22.4% of heterosexual women said

raising children has declined to 16%. This pattern

they were under age 20 when their first child was

seems to contradict the prevailing view that

born. For lesbians and bisexual women, the figure

increasing numbers of lesbians and gay men (and

was 37.9%; this was statistically significant.

same-sex couples) are raising children. However, a closer look at these data suggests that there may be two different parenting trends occurring. How do LGBTQ+ people come to be parents? In the 2000 U.S. Census, nearly 10% of the samesex, unmarried-partner couples raising children were in households with an adopted child present. By 2009, American Community Survey (ACS) data suggest that the comparable figure had nearly doubled to 19%. Clearly, the decade saw a substantial rise in adoptive parenting by same-sex couples. Nevertheless, those increases may have been offset by decreases in parenting by lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals who had children at a relatively young age (likely before they were open about or aware of their sexual orientation) in a relationship with a different-sex partner. Declines in social stigma toward LGBTQ+ people mean that more are coming out earlier in

QUEER WOMEN ARE

2. 6x M O R E L I K E LY T H A N Q U E E R M E N T O H AV E C H I L D R E N

F A M I L Y

M A K E U P S

P E R C E N TA G E O F L G B T Q + C O U P L E S

Los Angeles – January 25, 2012 – Proportionally fewer

ADOPTING CHILDREN DOUBLES

same-sex couples are raising children today than in 2006, and their families reflect greater racial/ethnic and socioeconomic diversity than often represented in the media and academic research, according to new analyses by Williams Distinguished Scholar Dr. Gary Gates, published by the National Council of Family Relations. “These findings debunk popular misconceptions about parenting among same-sex couples, particularly that those raising children are predominantly white, urban and wealthy,” said the author Gates. Demographic data show significant diversity among samesex couples with children. These families live throughout the country: of same-sex couples by region, 26% in the South, 24% in New England, and 21% in the Pacific states are raising children. Childrearing is substantially higher among racial/ethnic minorities and African-Americans, in particular, are 2.4 times more likely than their White counterparts to be raising children. Further, among individuals in same-sex couples who did not finish high school, 43% are raising children, and 20% of children raised by same-sex couples live in poverty.

IN THE YEAR 2000

10 %

Curiously, the proportion of same-sex couples raising children has begun to decline. In Census 2000, more than 17% of same-sex couples were raising children. That

OF LGBTQ+ COUPLES

proportion peaked at 19% in 2006 and has declined to

I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S

16% in 2009. Despite the decline, the number of same-

WERE ADOPTING

sex couples raising children is still much higher today than ten years ago since many more couples are reporting themselves in Census Bureau data. In 2000, the Census reported about 63,000 couples raising children. Today, the figure is now more than 110,000. The decrease in the proportion of couples raising children may be due to decreases in parenting by lesbian, gay and

A D O P T

bisexual (LGB) individuals who had children at a

research on parenting by same-sex couples and

relatively young age while in a relationship with a

statistical agencies to do a better job of collecting

different-sex partner. Different-sex relationships

data about LGBT individuals and their families.

at a relatively young age are a common path to parenthood for LGB men and women. Gates

The research draws on data from several of our

analyses show that LGB individuals are younger

population-based surveys, including the 2008

than non-LGB individuals when they have their

General Social Survey, the California Health

first child (22.5 years compared to 24.1 years

Interview Survey from 2009, the US Census

respectively), and individuals in same-sex couples

Bureau’s American Community Survey, Census

who were previously married are much more likely

2000, as well as the 2002 National Survey of

to have biological or stepchildren than those who

Family Growth.

were never married (23.5% compared to 9.5%). Despite proportional declines in parenting, Gates’ analyses show that adoptive parenting is clearly increasing. Among couples with children,

IN THE YEAR 2009

19 %

the proportion of same-sex couples who have

OF LGBTQ+ COUPLES

adopted children has nearly doubled from 10%

I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S

to 19% between 2000 and 2009. Same-sex

WERE ADOPTING

couples with adopted children are twice as likely to be white, to have obtained a higher level of education, and to have never been previously married. “Clearly, the decade saw a substantial rise in adoptive parenting,” said Gates, “but this increase has seemingly been outpaced by fewer LGB individuals having children early in life.” Declining social stigma toward LGB people may mean that more are coming out earlier in life and are becoming less likely to have children with different-sex partners. The study’s findings have significant implications for research and policy. The geographic data does suggest that many same-sex couples with children live in states with limited or no legal protections for their families. Further, the diverse portrait of LGB families challenges scholars to broaden their

F A M I L Y

M A K E U P S

The percentage of LGBTQ+ couples who adopt children instead of having children biologically has almost doubled in the United States since the turn of the Century. From 2000 until 2009, the percentage went from 10% to 19%, and the rate with which it increased has been exponential as people gain interest in adoption as a solution to many environmental and social justice issues. An article from 2011 says the following: An estimated one-quarter of all same-sex households are raising children, according to U.S. Census data, providing one of the first portraits of gay American families. For the first time ever, the census counts same-sex couples and their children, and as data trickles out state by state, more gay families are being tallied in the South. Just last week, reports from Hawaii and Alabama -- two very different states geographically and socially -- revealed that 27 and 23 percent of same-sex couples were raising children, respectively.

A D O P T

19%

LGBTQ+ OF

10%

2000

CHILDREN

STATES

ADOPT

UNITED

PARENTS

THE

PARENTS

WHO

LGBTQ+

2009

DEMOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS

Statistics specifically based on LGBTQ+ families in the United States.

Geography

Race of parents

Education of parents

D E M O G R A P H I C S

D E M O G R A P H I C C H A R I C TA R I S T I C S

Geographically, same-sex couples are most likely to

OF LGBTQ+ COUPLES IN THE US

have children in many of the most socially conservative parts of the country. Analyses of ACS data from the 2005 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2009 show that same-sex parenting is, in fact, more common in the South, where more than 26% of same-sex couples are now raising children, than in more socially liberal regions like New England (24%) or the Pacific states (21%). Interestingly, 35% of the LGBTQ+ population in the United States lives in the South, where they are more likely to lack various employment protections, earn less than $24,000 a year, and report that they cannot afford food or healthcare. More new HIV infections among men who have sex with men come from the South than any other region in the country. Southern LGBTQ+ individuals are also less likely to have insurance than than anywhere else in the United States of America. According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, 20% of LGBTQ+ people live in the Midwest, 19% in the Northeast, 17% in Pacific states, and 8% in the more central West.

South New England Pacific states Central U.S.

A D O P T

26% 24% US

21% 29%

WHERE LGBTQ+ FAMILIES RAISE CHILDREN

REGIONS

D E M O G R A P H I C S

Among individuals in same-sex couples, childrearing is substantially higher among the African-American, Latino, and Native American /Alaskan natives. This is also true for different-sex couples, but the relative differences between rates of white and AfricanAmerican parenting are greater among individuals in same-sex couples. African-Americans in same-sex couples are 2.4 times more likely than their white counterparts to be raising children (40% v. 16%, respectively). The Latinos and Latinas (28%) in samesex couples are 1.7 times more likely than whites to be raising children, and Native Americans /Alaska Natives (24%) are 1.5 times more likely. For differentsex couples, African-Americans are only 1.3 times more likely than whites to be raising children. The comparable figures for Latinos and Latinas and Native American / Alaska Natives in different-sex couples are 1.7 and 1.3, respectively.

T H E PAT T E R N I S T H E O P P O S I T E WITH REGARD TO ADOPTION The pattern is the opposite when we consider adoptive parenting. White same-sex couples with children are almost twice as likely as same-sex couples with a POC partner to be raising an adopted child. Among white same-sex couples with children, 18% report having an adopted child, compared to 9.6% of comparable couples that include a POC partner. Note that the research available on these topics is not always comprehensive, and can be exclusionary because LGBTQ+ issues have not been accepted long enough yet for the data to have been collected thoroughly.

A D O P T

RACES H AV E

LGBTQ+

BIOLOGICAL

PEOPLE

WHO

CHILDREN

40%

28%

24%

16%

AFRICANAMERICAN

LATINX

NATIVE AMERICAN & ALASKAN NATIVE

WHITE

RACES H AV E

LGBTQ+

ADOPTED

PEOPLE

WHO

CHILDREN

9.6%

18%

PEOPLE OF COLOR

WHITE

D E M O G R A P H I C S

EDUCATION WHO

H AV E

LEVELS

BIOLOGICAL

LGBTQ+

PEOPLE

CHILDREN

43%

15%

LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE

HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

GRADUATE DEGREE

EDUCATION WHO

H AV E

LEVELS

ADOPTED

LGBTQ+

PEOPLE

CHILDREN

18%

33.3%

LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE

HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

GRADUATE DEGREE

A D O P T

Childrearing among same-sex couples is substantially more common among those parents with lower levels of education. Among individuals in same-sex couples who have less than a high school degree, 43% of them are raising children. Only 15% percent of those with a graduate degree have children. This pattern is not true in different-sex couples, where between 41% and 48% are raising children, regardless of their education. As with observed racial/ethnic differences in childrearing, the pattern is the opposite with regard to adoptive parenting. Among individuals in same-sex couples who are raising children, education is clearly correlated with the likelihood of having an adopted child in the home. Among those with a high school diploma or lower levels of educational attainment, less than 8% have an adopted child. For college graduates, the comparable figure is 18% and among those with a graduate degree, fully one third have an adopted child.

E D U C AT I O N I S C O R R E L AT E D W I T H T H E L I K E L I H O O D O F H AV I N G A N ADOPTED CHILD IN THE HOME Minorities are also one of the largest-growing groups of adoptive parents. Pertman says that informal adoption and kinship care had long been commonplace in communities of color, it was just formalized less often. Only 13% of formally adopted children lived with a black parent, but per capita, black men are the most likely group to have adopted children.

ADOPTION

PROCESS

From challenging ethical and personal questions to planning and logistis.

Sort through emotions

Get questions answered

Consider types of adoption

Create adoption plan

Create adoption profile

Complete the home study

Choose a child

Learn about birthparents

Finalize adoption

Create post-placement plan

A D O P T I O N

Some emotions and emotional challenges that many

P R O C E S S

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

prospective adoptive parents must face and deal with honestly include the following: Making the decision to adopt instead of conceive biologially, dealing with the pressure of the “adoptive audition,” feeling satisfied

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

with the birthparent(s) of your adopted child, the myth of bliss after receiving your child, separation anxiety and fear that the birth mother will change her mind about giving away her child, belated bonding, ungrateful

CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

thoughts, interracial complexities, dealing with the presence of two mothers - the list goes on. Parents can deal with these emotions by accepting it as normal, confiding in trusted people, and finding a community

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

within which to support each other. HAPPINESS

Adoption is an incredibly fulfilling expe-

rience. When you bring your child home for the first time, your heart goes from full to overflowing. Parents

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

must remember that emotionwhen the days get dark. This comes in many different forms. There’s a fear

FEAR

of the system (if you are fostering to adopt), fear that

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

birth parents will change their minds, fear that your child will grow up to resent you and want their “other” parent, or fear of the unknown. GRIEF

CHOOSE A CHILD

Many adoptive parents go through grief. In the

months after the birth, some parents find themselves feeling sad for the birth mother. The deeper parents fall in love with the baby, the more they empathize with the

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

immense loss the birth mother must feel. FRUSTRATION

All parents experience frustration, but

for the adoptive parents, dealing with the adoption and/

FINALIZE ADOPTION

or foster care process contributes to added stress. JOY

This is considered different from happiness and

classified as a confidence that, even through the storms of life, things are going to be okay.

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T

Are you really ready to adopt a baby? Have you totally

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

considered all of the factors? Are you prepared for a lifelong commitment? Are you emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially ready? Adopting a child can be a stressful and emotional process, so prospective

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

parents must make sure they are 100% prepared and have addressed any outstanding questions they might have about adoption. CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

Do some research about frequently asked questions different websites and books and articles will give you different things to think about in regards to getting ready to make decisions that have gravity in your life

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

and the life of an adoptable child. One examle of a list of frequently asked questions is included below: What are the requirements for adoption? How do I find a reputable adoption agency?

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

What are the adoption laws in my State? How do I find out about my State laws governing adoption (e.g., consent to adopt; who can adopt, etc.)? What is an adoption home study? What type of

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

information is included in it? I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to adopt a child. Where can I get help with adoption costs? What are the requirements to adopt a child from foster

CHOOSE A CHILD

care? I want to adopt a child. Am I eligible for adoption assistance (also called adoption subsidy)? I need help with my adopted child. What resources are

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

available to me in my State? My new spouse wants to adopt my child. How do we do this? How do I adopt a child living in another State? How do

FINALIZE ADOPTION

I adopt across State lines? How do I adopt a child from a foreign country? How do I adopt my relativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children? What if they live in another country?

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T I O N

C H I L D R E N C U R R E N T LY I N F O S T E R C A R E

You can

P R O C E S S

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

learn more about the children by contacting the public or private agencies in your community. F O S T- A D O P T

A foster child is place in your home with

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

expectation that he/she will become legally free and available to be adopted by you. I N FA N T

There are more people wanting to adopt in-

CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

fants than there are infants available. INDEPENDENT

Many people who want infants will try

to adopt through an intermediary - for example, a law-

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

yer, physician or other facilitator rather than through some licensed adoption agency. CLOSED

No identifying information about the birth

family or the adoptive family is shared between the two,

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

and there is no contact. OPEN

This type of adoption allows for some form of

association among the birth parents, adoptive parents

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

and the child they adopted. STEPCHILD

Step-parent adoption is directed by state

law, which changes from state to state. R E L AT I V E

CHOOSE A CHILD

For information visit the Child Welfare

Information Gateway—www.childwelfare.gov. L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S GRANDCHILD

Visit the Children’s Defense Organiza-

tion—www.childrensdefense.org. A D U LT

More information on who may adopt or be

FINALIZE ADOPTION

adopted, visit www.childwelfare.gov. I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 800375-5283 for information on immigration & adoption.

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T

Having an adoption plan means that you’ve carefully

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

thought through your decision and have a strategy in place that could include placing your child your baby with an adoptive family. Whether you go through with it or not is another matter. The important thing is

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

that you’ve weighted all of your options and, for now anyway, adoption is one of the choices that you’re seriously thinking about. In creating a plan, your first consideration should always be your baby. Some of the

CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

questions you might want to ask yourself are: What kind of life do I want my baby to have? What qualities and characteristics are important to me

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

in an adoptive family? How much contact do I want to have with my child as he gets older? One way to decide what kind of life you want your

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

child to have is to sort out your own priorities. What’s important to you? Is it religion? Education? A family that lives near you? A lot will come down to your personal preferences. Start putting a list together

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

and prioritize each item, from the most to the least important. Once it’s done, go through the adoptive parent profiles one by one. Each time you find something you like in a family, put a check mark beside

CHOOSE A CHILD

their name. When you’re finished going through all the profiles, add up all the check marks. The family that has the most check marks is likely the one you’re looking for.

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

You still need to speak to and meet with them. You want to make sure they’re everything you think they are. As you went through your profile, questions likely popped

FINALIZE ADOPTION

up. Jot them down and make sure you get all the answers you need. If you’re satisfied they’re the right one, have your adoption worker create some guidelines about the kind of relationship you want to have with them after the adoption has been approved.

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T I O N

Your Adoption Profile is quite simply the most import-

P R O C E S S

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

ant part of your outreach as a hopeful adoptive parent. It must, in a matter of seconds, introduce you to potential birthparents and interest them enough to encourage them to learn more about you. You must represent your

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

family with beauty, honesty and with your creativity. In addition to sharing information about yourself, you must also paint a picture of what life would be like for

CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

a child in your family. Accomplishing these two things in a sincere and honest way is what being genuine is all about. One of the things that gets in people’s way is their desire to avoid saying something that might turn

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

somebody off. Your goal shouldn’t be to connect with each and every birthparent, but rather to connect with the right birthparent for your family. It’s best to create an engaging and artistically designed adoption profile that will make you stand out from the multitude of

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

adoption profiles that birthparents review. The photographs and captions you put in your adoption profile, especially the first set on the front page, are

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

frequently the determining factors in whether or not someone reads your profile. At a minimum, expectant parents make initial judgments based on the photos. Most adopting parents spend much more time writing

CHOOSE A CHILD

the words of their adoption profile and not nearly enough time finding just the right photographs and writing the perfect complementary captions. L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

It is more memorable and a more interesting read when you show your values, loves, and personality through anecdotes, stories, and pictures. Do not simply report facts when you could tell a short story.

FINALIZE ADOPTION

There are many websites and resources that will help you create an adoption profile that is appropriate for you as prospective LGBTQ+ parents.

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T

A major step in building your family through adoption

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

is the home study. This factsheet discusses the common elements of the home study process and addresses some questions that prospective adoptive parents may have about the process. Specific home study requirements

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

and processes vary greatly from agency to agency, State to State, and (in the case of intercountry adoption) by the child’s country of origin. They are subject to change. CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

The laws of every United State and the District of Columbia require all prospective adoptive parents (no matter how they intend to adopt) to participate in a home study conducted by a licensed social worker or

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

caseworker. This process has three purposes: Educate and prepare the prospective family for the adoption of the child. Evaluate the capability and suitability of the prospective

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

family to adopt. Gather information about the prospective adoptive family that will help a social worker match the family with a child or youth whose needs they can best meet

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

(applicable to adoptions in which public child welfare agencies are involved). With accurate information about the process,

CHOOSE A CHILD

prospective adoptive parents can face the home study experience with more confidence. It may be helpful to remember that agencies are not looking for perfect parents. Rather, they are looking for a good match

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

between a child or youth’s needs and a family’s ability to meet those needs. It is important to keep in mind that the adoption home study process is actually about the process and not just the final report. There is no single

FINALIZE ADOPTION

format that all adoption agencies use to conduct home studies. Many agencies include the following steps in their home study process, although the specific details and order will vary.

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T I O N

Now that you have finished all the prerequisite adop-

P R O C E S S

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

tion paperwork and training, you’re on your way to having a child or sibling group matched with you. It’s important to remain patient during this step in the process and not get discouraged while you wait. It’s also

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

important to continue a strong partnership with your caseworker during this time to ensure you find the right match for your family. CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

Understand how the matching process works Stay in contact with your caseworker Use state photolistings Getenough information about children to make an

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

informed decision Understand and avoid personal biases Ask to review a copy of your home study Write a cover letter Create a family photo book or video

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

Network while you wait Find other ways to help children in foster care Policies regarding being matched with a child and re-

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

ceiving an adoptive placement vary depending on where you live and the jurisdiction responsible for the child. As a result, the timelines and specific processes agencies use in matching children with families may vary widely.

CHOOSE A CHILD

A match occurs if your family is selected as the adoptive placement for a child or sibling group. At this point, you will be provided additional informa-

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

tion about the child or sibling group so that your decision to proceed with meeting them is a well informed one. Once you have had an opportunity to review all of the available information about the child, and are

FINALIZE ADOPTION

satisfied that the match is a good one for you and for the child, the process of introducing your family to the child or sibling group begins. C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T

The process for locating birth parents differs based

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

on the type of adoption and the state in which the adoption occurred. Locating birth parents is generally very easy when the adoption was open or semi-open, as birth parent contact information has been shared. It

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

may simply be a matter of the child or adoptive parents calling the birth parents and taking the time to initiate a discussion. CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

The process of locating birth parents is more difficult with closed adoptions. In such cases, adoption records were sealed by the court, and only a court order can make them public again. Luckily, the Internet has made

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

the process of finding birth parents a great deal easier, at least when both parties want to be found. Online adoption registries that both adopted children and birth parents can participate in are designed to reunite willing children and birth parents. Birth parents and children

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

can each provide necessary contact information and give their consent for their information to be shared should a match be made.

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

When birth parents do not want to be found, there are still mechanisms for helping adoptive children to learn the answers to some of their questions. In rare instances (e.g., the onset of a chronic illness with uncertain

CHOOSE A CHILD

future), an adopted child may petition the court that granted their adoption to open their adoption file so as to make its contents visible to that child. Some states, territories and provinces, now have processes in place

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

that help adopted children request medical information in their sealed records by sending the state notarized letters, and by providing their date of birth, adoptive parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; names, and location of their adoption. The

FINALIZE ADOPTION

government will then provide basic medical information that is on file, but not release contact information or any information about the location of the birth parents. C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T I O N

The finalization of a child’s adoption marks the finish

P R O C E S S

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

line of a marathon. When a court issues a decree of adoption, your relationship as parent and child is permanently and legally established. It’s true that most families do not have to dress up, go to court, and tell

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

their children, under oath, “I love you and I want you to be mine forever.” What a blessing it is that we do. Finalization of adoption usually takes place between

CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

three months and a year after the child comes home. An adoption cannot be finalized until the birth parents’ revocation period (ranging from hours to months) has expired and the family’s social worker has completed at

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

least one post-placement visit. (If you are adopting from foster care, finalization may happen soon after your child is deemed legally free.) An adoption may be finalized in the state where the

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

child was born or in the adoptive parents’ state of residence. I find that most parents want to finalize in the state where they live, but the decision is largely driven by logistics and by which state’s laws are more favorable

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

for the adoptive parents (for instance, the state that maintains a putative father registry, or the one with a shorter revocation period). Because finalization is a matter of state law, you’ll want to be represented by an

CHOOSE A CHILD

attorney, even if you adopted through an agency. If you adopted internationally, obtaining a U.S. birth certificate is one of the main reasons to readopt in your

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

state — even if you have the foreign equivalent documents from your child’s home country. In terms of legal requirements, you are done! Most state

FINALIZE ADOPTION

laws make it virtually impossible to contest an adoption for any reason other than fraud, so you can safely let out that last breath you have been holding. And then parents return back to the starting line — to begin the most challenging and rewarding marathon yet.

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

A D O P T

By the time you get to take your new child home, you will

SORT THROUGH EMOTIONS

likely be excited and relieved to finally be finished with the adoption process. However, the adoption journey is not truly over until you satisfy all of the necessary postplacement requirements.

GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Between an adoptive placement and the finalization of your adoption, you will be required to complete postplacement visits according to your state’s adoption laws.

CONSIDER TYPES OF ADOPTION

Below, learn more about post-placement requirements and what to expect during post-placement visits. Following an adoption placement, adoptive families will

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P L A N

undergo a post-placement supervision period, during which time a social worker will make visits to the adoptive home and develop a report detailing the child’s and parents’ adjustment to the placement.

C R E AT E A D O P T I O N P R O F I L E

These visits are usually conducted by your home study provider and are very similar to the home study visits you completed prior to adopting. Your social worker will observe you and your child and discuss a variety of topics,

COMPLETE THE HOME STUDY

from developmental milestones to pediatrician visits. The primary purpose of the post-placement visit is to ensure the adoptive placement is a good fit for the adoptive parents and the child and that everyone’s needs are being

CHOOSE A CHILD

met. The exact requirements, process and number of postplacement visits you will need to complete will vary

L E A R N A B O U T B I R T H PA R E N T S

based on your state’s laws, but an average of three postplacement visits is usually required. You will be required to comply with all post-placement laws and requirements for the state where your adoption will be finalized, not

FINALIZE ADOPTION

necessarily where you live. The type of adoption you have completed (domestic, foster care, international, etc.) and the licensing agency you work with may also impact your post-placement visits.

C R E AT E P O S T- P L A C E M E N T P L A N

CASE

FOR

LGBTQ+

PARENTHOOD

While many still believe LGBTQ+ people to be unfit parents, it is absolutely not the reality.

Equality of LGBTQ+ and heterosexual parenting

Advantages of LGBTQ+ adoptive families

Increasing protections for LGBTQ+ parents

T H E

C A S E

EQUALITY OF HETEROSEXUAL

New research shows that children adopted into lesbian

& L G B T Q + PA R E N T I N G

and gay families are as well-adjusted as children adopted by heterosexual parents, and follow similar patterns of gender development, said Charlotte J. Patterson, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia. Patterson discussed the results of a study in press in Applied Developmental Science at an APA Annual Convention symposium on same-sex marriage. Along with co-authors Rachel H. Farr and Stephen L. Forssell, she studied 106 families — including 56 same-sex couples and 50 heterosexual couples — who adopted children at birth or in the first few weeks of life. By looking at parents’ self-reports and reports of others, the researchers found that the children of gays and lesbians were virtually indistinguishable from children of heterosexual parents.

C H I L D R E N O F G AY S A N D L E S B I A N S W E R E V I R U TA L LY I N D I S T I N G U I S H ABLE FROM CHILDREN OF HETEROS E X U A L PA R E N T S Patterson and her co-authors point out that while numerous studies have documented patterns of healthy development among children born to lesbian and gay parents, very little research about adoptive gay and lesbian families has been reported. With an estimated 100,000 children waiting to be adopted in the United States as of 2008, the research indicates that policies in states that forbid gay and lesbian couples from adopting need to be re-examined, Patterson said.

A D O P T

~87%

PERCEIVED SUCCESS & WELL ADJUSTMENT

CHILDREN OF LGBTQ+ PARENTS

PERCEIVED SUCCESS & WELL ADJUSTMENT

~87%

CHILDREN OF HETEROSEXUAL PARENTS

T H E

C A S E

A D VA N TA G E S O F L G B T Q +

There are several advantages for LGBTQ+ families

PA R E N T H O O D & A D O P T I O N

interested in adoption. It is commonly misunderstood that children placed in same-sex households will face problems as a direct result of their parents’ sexual orientation. This is a vast misconception, seeing the advantages and benefits LGBTQ+ adoption could offer your family and your future child. When so many children, both born and unborn, in need of a loving and caring family, it is hard to understand all the controversy surrounding LGBTQ+ adoption. Mostly, the arguments against LGBTQ+ adoption are based on prejudices, since there are so many wonderful examples of LGBTQ+ adoption from all over the world.

A PERSON’S ABILITY TO BE A G O O D PA R E N T I S N O T D E P E N D E N T O N T H E I R S E X U A L O R I E N TAT I O N A person’s ability to be a good parent is not in any way dependent on whether the person loves someone of the same sex or of the opposite sex. It is totally irrational and unfounded to say that gay parents are bad just because they are gay. Some consider LGBTQ+ relationships to be more stable than heterosexual relationships, which means LGBTQ+ couples may be able to provide a more emotionally secure home to an adopted child. These couples usually turn to adoption simply because they want a child and their options are a little more limited than those of a traditional couple. LGBTQ+ couples actively choose and have to work hard to become parents, which means they can be more motivated and committed.

A D O P T

The children of LGBTQ+ parents are no different

Two parents are often better than one or none. A

from those of heterosexual parents when it comes

two-parent LGBTQ+ adoption offers a child the

to social functioning and school performance.

benefit of having two loving and invested parents.

This argument is important because one of the

The family is a family, regardless of whether the

main and most often mentioned “disadvantages”

child has a mom and dad, two moms, or two dads.

of LGBTQ+ adoption is that every child needs

Children deserve to be raised in a stable home,

both a father and a mother. So, based on all the

and couples who really want a child in their life are

conducted research, this can’t be taken into

going to provide them with the love and care that

consideration since it simply is not true.

they deserve.

LGBTQ+ parents can understand the positive impact of differences in people, and naturally they are going to teach their children to be tolerant and without prejudices. Children raised by LGBTQ+ parents are also more sympathetic to differences and often even fight for equality in their personal lives and careers. They can be more open minded about different lifestyles and relationships. The acceptance of minority communities and the LGBTQ+ community - this is an important benefit to mention because it can lead to something bigger one day.

MORE LGBTQ+ ADOPTIONS WILL I N C R E A S E S O C I A L A C C E P TA N C E FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY The truth is that children of LGBTQ+ couples are more accepting of same-sex and non-traditional families. If there were more LGBTQ+ adoptions, the legal benefits of same-sex weddings, legislature that benefits and protects LGBTQ+ parents’ relationships with their children, as well as their social acceptance would rise much sooner.

DIFFERENCE

SOCIAL

C A S E

T H E

ABILITY

CHILDREN LGBTQ+

PARENTS

CHILDREN

HETEROSEXUAL PARENTS

A D O P T

Many gay couples — especially adoptive gay parents — form relationships that are more stable than many heterosexual marriages, giving adopted children a secure

S TA B L E R E L AT I O N S H I P S

emotional home as well as providing a better example of a healthy relationship. Because they had to actively choose and work hard to be

C O M M I T T M E N T T O PA R E N T H O O D

parents, gay parents can be more motivated, involved, and committed than some hetersexual parents. Children that grow up in same-sex households are more

TEACHING EMAPTHY

sympathetic to differences and more likely to value equality. They are proven to be more open minded about different lifestyles and relationships than children who are raised in traditional opposite-sex households.

OPEN MINDEDNESS

Children of gay parents report they felt less hindered by gender stereotypes than they might have been if raised in a heterosexual household.

LESS GENDERING OF CHILDHOOD

There is a shortage of adoptive parents, and any loving adoptive family is better than the foster care system. Affection and nurturing qualities are more common

IMPROVEMENT FROM FOSTER CARE

with peers amongst children who have been raised in same-sex households, in comparison to children who grew up in heterosexual households.

MORE NURTURING QUALITIES

Because gay parents have likely had to face difficulties and discrimination in their lives, they are usually better able to appreciate when their child’s own problems. Gay parents will be more open minded when it comes to

I N C R E A S E D A C C E P TA N C E

accepting their child’s lifestyle choices. Children of same-sex parents may have a better ability to overcome obstacles, stand firm despite adversity, and make decisions using good emotional intelligence.

STRONG ABILITY TO OVERCOME

T H E

C A S E

PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ+

It took 25 years, but on Tuesday New York State’s

PA R E N T S A R E I N C R E A S I N G

highest court finally admitted the damage it did in 1991 with a ruling that denied parental rights to many people in nontraditional families — including unmarried opposite-sex couples, stepparents, and gays and lesbians — who are raising children. In an opinion that recognizes the rapidly expanding rights of same-sex couples in particular, the Court of Appeals overturned what it called a “needlessly narrow” ruling, which held that a person in an unmarried relationship could be considered a parent to a child in that relationship — and thus be able to seek custody or visitation rights — only if he or she was the biological parent or had adopted the child. Under the 1991 decision, gays and lesbians, who were forbidden by law to marry in New York until 2011 and forbidden to adopt until 1995, could spend years helping their partners rear a child and yet have no legal rights. That’s what happened to Brooke S.B., a petitioner in the current case, whose partner, Elizabeth A. C.C., had borne a boy whom they raised together, who was given Brooke’s last name and called her “Mama B.”

1991

D E N I A L O F PA R E N TA L R I G H T S T O LGBTQ+ COUPLES IN THE U.S.

A D O P T

When the couple’s relationship ended in 2010,

The decision is unquestionably right, and long

Elizabeth sought to block Brooke from having

overdue. Even as other, more conservative states

contact with the boy. The courts ruled against

expanded parental rights to gay parents, the New

Brooke, because the 1991 decision, Alison D. v.

York court refused to overturn the Alison D.

Virginia M., meant she had no legal standing as a

decision, most recently in 2010. Since then, the

parent.

rights of same-sex couples have been expanded considerably: In 2011, the New York Legislature

In overturning the Alison D. decision, the court

legalized same-sex marriage, and in 2015, the

noted that the guiding principle of New York’s

United States Supreme Court followed suit,

family law is to protect the best interests of the

pointing to the stigma faced by children being

child. By relying on an outdated notion of what

raised by same-sex couples who are subject to

constitutes a family, the court said, the earlier

discrimination.

decision had traumatized children and “inflicted disproportionate hardship on the growing number

In affirming that legal rights associated with

of nontraditional families.”

parenthood do not hinge simply on biology or marital status, the Court of Appeals decision

Under the new rule, a partner in an unmarried

stands as an important marker in the continuing

couple may seek parental rights by proving that

struggle for equal rights.

both partners had agreed to conceive and raise a child together, as Brooke and Elizabeth did. The court left open the possibility that a partner could seek parental rights even if he or she was not involved in the decision to conceive, but it did not decide that question on Tuesday.

2016

O V E R D U E V I C T O RY F O R L G B T Q + PA R E N TA L R I G H T S I N T H E U . S .

IMPORTANCE

DATA

COLLECTION

Why data collection about LGBTQ+ people and families is significant and vital for the community.

Impact and value of data for communities

Conclusion

D A T A

C O L L E C T I O N

W H Y D ATA M AT T E R S M O R E T H A N

The following essay is by Emily Waters, the Senior

EVER FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE

Manager of National Research and Policy for the New York City Anti-Violence Project. It was published by the Huffington Post on March 30th, 2017. This week it was announced that the 2020 Census will not include questions about sexual orientation and gender identity. Later John H. Thompson, the director of the U.S. Census Bureau, released a statement saying that after review â&#x20AC;&#x153;there was no federal data need to change the planned census.â&#x20AC;? This could not be more inaccurate. Collecting this information would have been monumental for the LGBTQ+ anti-violence movement and not collecting it sends a clear message that the needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ communities should remain invisible. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) understands this first hand as we have been collecting data on how hate violence and intimate partner violence impacts LGBTQ+ and HIV affected communities for the last 20 years. The coalition started to collect and publish this data because at that time there was nearly no data on the violence that LGBTQ+ people experienced and the violence that LGBTQ+ people experienced was rendered invisible. By collecting and publishing this data, NCAVP was able to show that thousands of LGBTQ+ people experience violence every year. We found that LGBTQ+ people are not only experiencing violence at the hands of strangers, but also in schools, workplaces, housing, and by intimate partners. And that LGBTQ+ people who have been forced to the margins, such as people of color, undocumented communities, and communities with disabilities, experience unique forms of violence, and that we must center and lift up these communities in

A D O P T

C O L L E C T I N G T H I S I N F O R M AT I O N W O U L D H AV E B E E N M O N U M E N T A L FOR THE LGBTQ+ ANTI-VIOLENCE MOVEMENT IN 2020.

NOT COLLECTING IT SENDS A C L E A R M E S S A G E T H AT T H E N E E D S AND EXPERIENCES OF LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES SHOULD REMAIN I N V I S I B L E I N D E F I N I T E LY.

D A T A

C O L L E C T I O N

WE ARE OFTEN ASKED ABOUT H O W C O L L E C T I N G D ATA , O R L A C K T H E R E O F, O N L G B T Q + C O M M U N I T I E S I M PA C T S T H E W AY T H A T L G B T Q + P E O P L E EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE.

T H E S H O R T A N S W E R I S T H AT I T I M PA C T S E V E RY T H I N G .

A D O P T

our work. We are often asked how collecting

discrimination against transgender people is

data, or lack thereof, on LGBTQ+ communities

occurring while a deadly crisis of anti-transgender

impacts the ways that LGBTQ people experience

violence is gaining momentum. In 2016, we saw

violence, and the short answer is that it impacts

this highest number of homicides of transgender

everything. Data collection and the information

people ever reported by the coalition. And this

gleaned is how resources get allocated on the

year, we have already lost eight transgender

federal and state level. Without better data

women of color.

collection, it’s difficult to advocate for the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. This means less

Having more data and information on the need

resources for LGBTQ+ programs that work on

for protections for LGBTQ+ communities can

housing, employment discrimination, educational

help advocates and lawmakers keep the few

programs, and providing services to LGBTQ+

protections we have in place and push for further

survivors of violence.

legislative actions. Having more data and information means more resources for LGBTQ+

Having information on the ways that LGBTQ+

communities and organizations. More resources

people are impacted by violence, poverty, home-

and protections can save lives.

lessness, and discrimination helps lawmakers to understand the imperative need for legislative

Now more than ever, we need to be lifting up

protections for the most vulnerable constituents.

and sharing the experiences of LGBTQ+ people, including the ways that LGBTQ+ communities

As of now, the only piece of federal legislation that

experience violence. This is why 11 organizations

includes explicit nondiscrimination protections

came together to create Communities Against

for LGBTQ+ people is the 2013 Reauthorization

Hate, which collects stories on the ways that

of the Violence Against Women Act. That’s it.

marginalized communities experience violence

This historic inclusion was in large part a result of

and connects survivors to legal and other

data that demonstrated how LGBTQ+ people are

supportive services.

disproportionately impacted by both sexual and domestic violence and that LGBTQ+ survivors

If the Trump administration won’t be bothered to

often experience discrimination when trying to

collect information on the experiences LGBTQ+

access services. All other federal level protections

communities and try to silence us in the process,

exist in the form of regulations, guidance, and

we’ll just keep having to do it ourselves. We will

executive orders, and these are currently being

ensure that our lives and experiences count.

targeted by the Trump Administration. Moreover, in the last few years we have seen hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in states across the country, most often geared at taking away the rights of transgender communities. This state sanctioned

D A T A

I T I S W O R T H R E P E AT I N G

C O L L E C T I O N

Without better data collection, it’s difficult to advocate for the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. If the Trump administration won’t be bothered to collect information on the experiences LGBTQ+ communities and try to silence us in the process, we’ll just keep having to do it ourselves. We will ensure that our lives and experiences count.

A promise made to you by the existence of this book

A D O P T

W E â&#x20AC;&#x2122; L L E N S U R E T H AT OUR LIVES AND OUR E X P E R I E N C E S C O U N T.

WORKS

CITED

A list of references used in the research phases and written copy in this book.

Research publications cited

Articles cited

Websites cited

Book lists cited

W O R K S

R E S E A R C H P U B L I C AT I O N S C I T E D

C I T E D

“Adopted children thrive in same-sex households, study shows.” American Psychological Association. The American Psychological Association , Oct. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. Gates, Gary J. “Family Focus on LGBT Families.” National Council on Family Relations. National Council on Family Relations, 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. Renna, Cathy, and Gary J. Gates. “As Overall Percentage Of Same-Sex Couples Raising Children Declines, Those Adopting Almost Doubles - Significant Diversity Among Lesbian and Gay Families.” The Williams Institute - UCLA School of Law. The Williams Institute, 31 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, Demographic Internet Staff. “American Community Survey Data on Same Sex Couples.” ACS Data on Same Sex Couples - People and Households. United States Census Bureau , 12 May 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, Demographic Internet Staff. ”SameSex Couple Households.” American Community Survey Briefs. United States Census Bureau , Sept. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

A D O P T

ARTICLES CITED

Berry, Mike. “5 Emotions Every Adoptive Parent Goes Through.” Confessions of an Adoptive Parent. N.p., 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. Fogle, Asher. “Surprising Facts You May Not Know About Adoption.” Good Housekeeping. Hearst Communications, Inc. , 08 Dec. 2015. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “Overview of Lesbian and Gay Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care.” American Civil Liberties Union. American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. The Editorial Board. “An Overdue Victory for Gay Parents and Their Children.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “The Hard Truths and Emotions of the Adoption Process.” Adoptive Families. N.p., 14 July 2015. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. Waters, Emily. “We Count: Why Data Matters More Than Ever For LGBTQ People.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc., 30 Mar. 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

W O R K S

WEBSITES CITED

C I T E D

“Adoption Process.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “Frequently Asked Questions: Adoption.” Child Welfare Information Gateway. Children’s Bureau, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “Legal Issues for Gay and Lesbian Adoption.” FindLaw. Thomson Reuters, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “LGBT Adoption Advantages.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “LGBT Adoption.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “LGBT Adoption Process.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “LGBT Adoption Statistics.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “Same Sex Adoption.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. Seth. “Adoption Statistics.” Statistic Brain. Statistic Brain Research Institute, 06 Apr. 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “State Adoption Laws.” FindLaw. Thomson Reuters, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “Types of Adoption.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “Types of Adoptions.” National Adoption Center. National Adoption Center, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

A D O P T

BOOK LISTS CITED

“Books on LGBT Adoption.” LifeLong Adoptions. LifeLong Adoptions, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “Gay Parents: Selected full-text books and articles.” Questia . Cengage Learning, 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. “LGBT Parenting.” Our True Colors. Our True Colors, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

FIN Designed by Isabel Levin in April of 2017 Typeset on an Apple Macintosh with InDesign Typefaces used include Hoefler Text and Futura Standard. Paper used is Mohawk Superfine Uncoated 1 digitally printed, perfect-bound copy Special thanks to Anthony Rutka